Blessed are the curious...for they create a better world.

Friday, January 27, 2012

My New Living Room!


Here is my new, shabby chic French Vintage living room!  My girlfriend Mary came all the way to San Diego from Portland to help me redecorate this room.  We were so excited to start that we forgot to take the before photos (boo hoo).  All I can say is that the tile on the fireplace was bright Mexican blue, and the mantle was the original wood oak color.  The room was very dark.  And voila, we created a bright, sunny room. 

The chaise is one of my favorite parts, and believe it or not, I found it at Costco.


This table was a great find, already refinished in the white distressed look.  It came from one of the wonderful little vintage stores on Newport Ave in Ocean Beach.

This vignette is all Mary!

These wonderful refrubished candlesticks are also from the same store as the table.  The teapot is from Vignettes, one of my favorite stores on Newport Ave.

These used to be candle holders that my girlfriend Randee and I created out of some pillars we demoed from my old house.  It was Mary's idea to use them to display this collection of pots.  Love the idea Mary!

And I still had to find a place to put my favorite photo of my dad painting plein air.  An angel to sit with him is so fitting.


Mary and I found this dresser at the Salvation Army. It was brown and broken.  We repaired it, sanded it and painted a few different coats of this very light robin's egg blue.  Then we had a blast distressing it.  It was the first distressed furniture attempt for both of us and we are hooked!

What a wonderful experience it was to redo my room with my friend.  Mary, I can't thank you enough for your help.  I'm so, so happy with my new beautiful and peaceful retreat!

I know this isn't pink, but I couldn't resist sharing this will all of my Pink Saturday friends.  Tahnk you all so much for visitng!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Faux Cupcakes

I've been redecorating this week and have brought out my platter of faux cupcakes once again.  I made these last year out of plaster of paris, clay and lots of decorations and glitter.  It was so much fun and I just love the entire plate together, and I thought my Pink Saturday friends would enjoy these.  Next week I should be able to unveil the living room project.  My fabulous friend Mary from Portland helped me transform my room into a peaceful creative oasis of creams, vintage and touches of robin's egg blue.  Stay tuned!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Altered Little Matchbox

This Valentine's Day Altered matchbox was made for a swap that I have entered with Vintage Dragonfly on Flickr.  You can view our group here. For this swap we are including miniature ATCS inside the matchbox.  I created my box by glimmer misting two chipboard butterflies and attaching them to the bottom and the top of the box.  I then collaged some Valentines images on top and added embellishments.  This swap group has been lots of fun.  Our host JoAnn always comes up with swaps that spark my creativity! 

And hello to all of the wonderful visitors from Pink Saturday.  It has been such a pleasure to get to know some of you through this link party.

Friday, January 6, 2012

A Fairy Exploding Box



I am having a blast creating these exploding boxes.  Here is a fairy themed box.  I just love this scrapbook paper filled with fairies and butterflies, and it was a great inspiration to use for the box.  The burlap flower on the top was created with a technique my girlfriend Lorraine showed me, twisting and stitching a strip of burlap until you have a rose.  I think the rough texture of burlap always adds something to the normal soft choices I usually make. This white burlap was given to me by my friend Rosa, but she said she found it at WalMart. And, Happy Pink Saturday to the visitors from Beverly's link party.  For more Pink Saturday posts head to Beverly's site.